Page 75 of Husband to Go

She’s surprised.

“That’s nice to hear. What are your specialties? Or do you have any?”

I nod.

“I make really good pasta, ravioli, or really anything Italian. I make a pretty decent steak too.”

Her eyes light up.

“I’d love to try your steak.”

“Of course, sweetheart. We have all the time in the world.” Kylie goes quiet for a second, and I realize I insinuated we’re going to be together for a long time when we haven’t really talked about the future. But I stand by my words because I want to be with her. She’s amazing, and the first woman who’s made my barriers fall by the wayside.

“It’s almost done,” Kylie points to the pan. I take the final pancake and shift it to a plate, surveying my work. I made a lot more than I intended to with this giant, buttery stack of dough, but better too many than too few.

“Is this all for us?” she asks, eyes wide.

“Yeah, baby. Let’s eat.”

Kylie jumps off the counter and carefully takes the plate to the table. I get each of us a glass and pour some orange juice into each. Then, I grab the syrup from the fridge and finally take a seat across from her. Kylie seizes the syrup bottle and drizzles a generous portion on top her stack. Then she cuts into the top, stuffing her mouth until her cheeks are ballooned like a chipmunk. I laugh a bit.

“You are fantastic,” I tell her. She says something, but I can’t understand it at all because her mouth is way too full. “What was that, sweetheart?”

She holds her hand up, chewing aggressively. She swallows the food in her mouth and breathes out.

“Mmm, that was really good. It absolutely hit the spot, and I had no idea I was so hungry.”

“So glad I could help scratch that itch,” I say mischievously. “By the way, baby, what do you want to do tonight?”

Kylie scrunches her nose.

“Hmmm, we could go out to a restaurant?”

I shake my head.

“I think it’s better if we stay in, sweetheart. My broken engagement with your mom is still fresh in everyone’s mind, so it’s too soon for us to go public. Why don’t we stay in and I can make you some steak?”

She thinks and then nods.

“Okay sure, that makes sense,” she murmurs. “I’ll finally get a chance to ask you all the questions that are burning in my mind. Just so you know, I have a lot of them.”

Oh shit. Normally, this would freak me out and make me grow evasive, but with Kylie, it’s okay. I’ll just have to do my best answering them all.

“Don’t look so scared. I’ll be nice,” she teases.

“As long as I get to ask you questions too?”

The beautiful girl grins.

“Of course. Tit for tat. It’ll be fun.”

We finish breakfast, and Kylie helps me clean up. I look over at my girlfriend and contentment descends over me. It feels weird calling her my girlfriend, but also totally right. I love her, and this is my new reality. The funny part is I can’t get enough. This woman satisfies me, and completes me in a way I didn’t even know was possible.

She wipes her hands on a dishrag and then shoots me a sunny smile.

“I should probably get going, so I can get ready for our date tonight.”

“Yeah? Are you going to look special for me? Get all dolled up?”